When Work Goes Crazy

I'm currently very busy at work as here in Oz it's the summer school holidays and the holiday park is fully booked.  With a capacity of several thousand, we're never short of something to do.  It's strange how work changes during this period.  From about the 18th of December through until the 27th of January things just go bonkers and you're never sure what the day will throw at you.  The phone rings all day.  All day.  It never stops.  And we try to answer it.  But when reception is full of people we have to let it go to voicemail.  Then we're trying to call people back, whilst the phone continues to ring.  Then of course there is the constant flow of emails that are filling up the inbox.  Normally we're on top of things, but at this time of year it's a case of doing as much as we can.  So our normal reception type jobs have been increased like a 100% but then you've got actual people to deal with.  And I swear, people come on holiday and leave their manners and sanity at home.  Everything goes out the window and it's a free for all.  The shop are dealing with a constant flow of kids and teenagers with light fingers.  The latest was a kleptomaniac three year old.  A three year old, amongst a number of children far too young to be wandering around without their parents.  But it's ok because they're on holiday.  The parents don't need to watch them because there are receptionists to do that for them.  There will be a number of lost children to deal with.  Some of whom have no idea what their name is or where they came from.  Some of whom don't speak English.  Our lost property stash is already attempting to escape, overflowing through the door and creating a monstrous heap.  Most of this stuff is never claimed.  Flip flops, clothes, swimming costumes, toys, goggles, watches, keys, books, sunglasses.  Everyone who comes up looking for something cannot find their item in the pile.  The pile continues to grow.  One of the ground staff brought up a whole bag of toys.  A whole bag!  They were left behind in one of the amenities blocks.  But no one has come up to claim them.  So the pile continues to grow...Teenagers wreak havoc, driving their cars too fast, wandering around in gangs, drinking into the night, causing upset in the pool.  We tell them no (even little me), we tell them to behave, we tell them we'll talk to their parents.  But we're given false names.  We're sworn at.  We're ignored.  And then we get angry parents coming up to shout at us because no one is controlling the teenagers.  It's wrong that the teenagers are intimidating those younger than them, those smaller than them, those who haven't done anything wrong.  This yelled at me by two very large men who'd obviously been drinking.  Who were actually holding beer as they launched into their tirade.  Then of course the first aiders are always on the go.  Someone's fallen over, running too fast.  Someone's come off their bike and hit the ground with their face.  We've already had the ambulance down about five times.  A wave of blue bottles caused the closure of the beach.  Heavy rain has caused muddy sites.  Campers are shocked and upset that rain has caused muddy sites.  Campers are shocked and upset that we cannot control the weather.  At about 5pm, with only three staff left the Europeans start arriving looking for sites for the night.  We're mostly fully booked.  We try to help find them somewhere to stay.  Little Stalky gets to practice her French on unsuspecting French folk.  The only German Little Stalky knows is how to say that there is hamster in my trousers.  Not very helpful.  Little Stalky is unsure of what language people from Switzerland speak.  Little Stalky is grateful that most people from the Netherlands speak very good English.  Little Stalky can obviously speak English to the English.  I have to feel sorry for them.  So many travellers are unaware of the Australian school holidays and how this causes everything to be fully booked.  A dangerous time of year to be hoping to just grab a site off the road.  We do our best, but when the sites are gone, the sites are gone.  People drive into things, fall over things, crash land into things and you have to wonder if people are going around with their eyes shut.  We have hundreds of cars trying to park where they shouldn't.  We're constantly in and out, getting licence plate numbers, tracking down the owner, asking them to move.  Politely telling people that no they can't park in the staff car park.  We have like four spaces and there are many, many more of us that work here.  We're sticking labels on windscreens asking people to report to reception.  They never do.  We try to close the doors at 7.30pm but the out of hours bell is constantly ringing.  What's the emergency?  Are you a late check in?  No, I need a pool band.  Do you know where I can get pizza?  Can I have a colouring in competition?  It's a constant battle.  We never stop.  But you're never bored.  You never know what the day is going to throw at you.  You never know who you're going to meet.  There are some mental holiday makers out there but there are some really nice ones too.  Regulars who will pop in for a chat. There are even nice kids out there too.  Polite ones who wait their turn and are so proud to give you their colouring in competition.  I hear the phone ringing in my sleep and I dream about work every night at the moment but it's all good.  I'd rather be rushed off my feet than sat twiddling my thumbs.  It's a crazy time of year, but it's kind of good fun.